Madison Central wins physical matchup with Northwest Rankin

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Annie Costabile

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Madison Central players hit the field before their game against Northwest Rankin Thursday, October 26th, 2017 in Flowood, MS.(Bob Smith-For the Clarion Ledger)(Photo: Bob Smith, For Clarion Ledger)Buy Photo

BRANDON — Any missed block or pass hanging a little too long in the air ended with a violent collision Friday night at Northwest Rankin. No opportunity for a big hit was missed in the physical matchup between rivals.

Madison Central ran onto the field through a flag reading, "Same game, different turf," and the Jaguars came out with a 27-10 win.

Yet when the game was over, Madison Central coach Anthony Hart made sure to talk to every Northwest Rankin coach and player he could, and he made sure to tightly hug his nephew, Justin Johnson, who plays for the Cougars.

It was a game far closer than the final score as Northwest Rankin led 10-7 through much of the third quarter. Then Madison Central sophomore quarterback Jimmy Holiday broke an untouched 40-yard touchdown run to give the Jaguars the edge late in the third.

Two drives later in the fourth quarter, the Jaguars inched their way downfield, taking several minutes off the clock before Cedric Beal took a 38-yard touchdown run to give some breathing room.

Jaguars cornerback Shacobia Luckett then intercepted a Cougar pass and returned it about 50 yards, setting up one last touchdown from Beal. Luckett intercepted another pass with two minutes remaining before the Jags ran out the clock.

Madison Central is now 8-2 on the season, but the Jaguars needed this win in particular. After losing 14-7 to Pearl and 14-6 to Starkville earlier in the season, the Jaguars wanted a signature win. They got it.

"I think we got over a little hump tonight we were looking to get over," Hart said, "and I felt good about the way we played."

Defensive dominance

The Madison Central defense has been one of the best in the state all season. It shut down Brandon, Pearl and Clinton, contained Starkville and held Northwest Rankin's offense to 10 points Friday.

The Cougars trot out one of the best running back tandems in the state in Tulane-commit Cameron Carroll and Dee Baker, yet the duo never truly got going Friday night. They had solid games but were never able to have enough of an impact.

The only real damage the Cougar offense did was through impressive jump balls by receivers Jarrion Jones and Montel Gladney.

Madison Central is undefeated when it scores more than seven points, and it was able to put up 27 behind guys like Cameron White, Beal and Holiday, who continues to develop since taking over for an injured J.D. Hull last month.

What's next?

Northwest Rankin coach Toby Collums made clear to his team after the game that four plays were the difference between winning and losing. They will work on those kinds of moments when they get back Monday.

He told his team, "We are one of the best teams in Mississippi," and whether this loss becomes their story or just a footnote in it will be up to them.